Trader Joe's Bavarian Style Hefeweizen - Trader Joe's Brewing Company

chaduvel

Massachusetts

4.55/5  rDev +27.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I wasn't expecting much from this beer. $4 a six pack and likely to be another American Wheat beer posing as a Hefeweizen.

Pours a cloudy light brown/golden color with a nice creamy head and there's plenty of yeast in the bottom of the bottle to pour in after swirling the bottle. So far so good. Aroma is yeast, clove, banana, vanilla. Wow, great hefeweizen aromas. Taste again consists of clove and banana with a crisp, dry finish, all the traditional yeast flavors are here and there's no over-hopping or watering down of the yeast flavors. Somewhat thin mouthfeel. This is on par with Brooklyner Weisse and quite possibly the second best American brewed Hefeweizen that I've tried. I am very impressed and can't wait to pick up another six-pack, and at $4 a pop, I'll probably pick up two!

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2006 15:08:36 | More by chaduvel

RBorsato

Virginia

4.38/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Cloudy peach color with a nice full pillowy off-white head and decent carbonation. Big bubblegum and banana aroma and flavor with a touch of clove on the finish. A good example of a Hefe with nice bubblegum flavors which don't get pronounced too often. LIght bodied and refreshing; not as creamy as some but nice enough.

As far as I know this is contract brewed by Gordon Biersch - a great bargain !

Per Label: "Unfiltered Wheat Beer" & "Minimum of 50% Malted Wheat" & "12 IBU"

Bottled: 06/29/06
Tasted: 09/04/06

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2006 16:37:28 | More by RBorsato

zeio

California

4.35/5  rDev +21.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Easy, tasty. Almost seems too sour but rounds it off. Smooth. Looks like it was OEM brewed by Gordon Biersch but who knows, whatever it is it is VERY cheap and very tasty. A 6-pack or a latte and crumpet at Pete's? I'll take the 6-pack.

Everyday drinking beer. Tasty. Good.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2006 04:54:16 | More by zeio

BayBrewer

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

One of the better domestic hefe's I have tried.
Color is a bit darker than average but thats not a bad thing.
Cloudy orange with a firm white head.
Aroma is a nice balance of clove and bannana.
Taste like a good hefe should with just a touch of citrus.
I could easily finish a sixer of this.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2007 23:31:19 | More by BayBrewer

jmatt72

Oregon

4.33/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 5

Very simply---if this weren't a Trader Joe's beer, it would have higher marks--I'd bet anything.

At least here on the West Coast, there are no examples of this style, at any price point, that compare to this beer. Heater-Allen, the only contender in Oregon, way more expensive and neither as good, nor as consistent as this beer. While not in class with the best German hefeweizens, it's damn close and an absolute steal for the price.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2010 04:17:06 | More by jmatt72

TheQuietMan22

Iowa

4.28/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Poured a cloudy harvest orange. A light eggshell colored head developed, which was not as thick as most of the hefes I'm used to. It dissipated to a thin lacing with a ring around the outside.

Smell: Very potent. I sniffed the bottle after opening and said, "Wow." It was more than I was expecting. Spicy cloves up front are followed by banana and fruity, almost strawberry, bubblegum.

Taste: Again, I'm very impressed. It's much like the smell. Prominent clove spice and bananas followed by fruity bubblegum.

Drinkability: It's smooth drinking hefe goodness; well balanced and deliciously flavorful. I think that makes it toothsome. Just the thing I need on a warm, brownout plagued SoCal night. I'm definitely trying TJ's Dunkelweizen.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2009 07:15:08 | More by TheQuietMan22

ibeplato

Virginia

4.22/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I bought a six-pack of this on a whim after seeing it and longing for a Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier.

I had one with dinner tonight, it poured very nicely, with a firm head that lasted a while. Taste was a huge surprise, I've had a lot of bad weissbier and I wasn't expecting much, but this was very good. Not quite as complex as the Weihenstephaner or some of the other highly-touted Bavarian brews, but very good with a good mix of flavors. I could easily drink several of these, in fact, I'm going to go have another.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2007 23:40:22 | More by ibeplato

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.22/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into Duvel tulip glass.

Appearance: Murky yellow orange with a lot of bubbles. Small white head fades into a white layer. Good lacing.

Smell: Strong scent of bananas, yeast, and clove with a touch of citrus. Some spice as well.

Taste: Sweet combination of banana, bubble gum, and cloves with lots of wheat. Slightly tart and spicy.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with carbonation on the higher side. Crisp and smooth.

Overall: A pretty good American version of a Hefeweizen.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2011 01:36:27 | More by MattyG85

eberkman

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I picked up a six-pack at Trader Joe's -- looking for something inexpensive and I generally really like Hefes. I hadn't been that impressed with other TJ's house brands, but this was an amazing surprise.


I tried it in a chilled pilsner glass and it poured a golden hue, slightly on the orange side -- cloudy, but not so much as others in this style. Nice off white head with some lacing on the glass.


The aroma hit me right away -- the banana scents above all, with a touch of cloves. Very pleasant.


The taste matched the smell -- the bananas seemed to dominate, but it was nicely spiced as well. Very smooth with a pleasant finish.


If felt a little thin in my mouth, but not unpleasantly so.


In terms of drinkability, it's an A+. Pretty low ABV, smooth and light, perfect for a warm evening or a hot day, but it went great with grilled salmon on a brisk evening too. I could have put away several of these, and I still might before the night is thru.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2006 01:42:09 | More by eberkman

mpyle

Maryland

4.18/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A huge creamy head, whitish in color with good retention. Rich golden color withe a bit of yeast cloudiness appropriate for the style.

Strong clove aroma from the yeast. Also a bit fruity - possibly banana also in the nose. No strong hop aroma.

Clove aroma comes through in the taste. Malt sweetness and hop bitterness seem to be in perfect balance, as neither sweet nor bitter. A citrus (orange) character, particularly toward the finish. A bit more hop flavor as it warms, but subtle noble type.

Medium light body and very high carbonation. Not creamy - carbonation adds a slight harshness. No alcohol warming

Overall a light, refreshing wheat beer. The yeast character of the style comes through, and creates the complex flavors and complement but don't overpower.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2007 01:25:01 | More by mpyle

kenito799

New York

4.15/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a tall glass.

Hazy dark golden brew with a foamy, creamy head. Looks very nice.

Aroma was a surprise...definite german hefe banana and clove notes over a fruity background. The active carbonation gives a nice real hefeweizen feel. The flavor has a great banana-clove effect up front, with a nice tingle. The finish has a good slightly sour wheatiness. The finishing effect is a bit on the heavy side. All in all this is a remarkably good approximation of the German hefe style, better than some German hefes.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2008 03:29:13 | More by kenito799

CaptainIPA

Wisconsin

4.15/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazed orange amber with a two-finger frothy head with admirable retention. Spotted lacing throughout session. Impressive aromas of bananas and cloves.

All banana and clove spice opening with indications of wheat beer yeast in the background. Crisp and refreshing mouthfeel with moderate carbonation and a creamy texture. Banana flavor is soon supplemented with suggestions of bubble gum and a hint of strawberry. Malted wheat begins to assert itself, while the hop presence takes a back seat. Finishes grainy with a blast of spice.

Refreshing and drinkable, the only fault I can find with the taste profile is that it borderlines on malt sweetness. Other than that, TJ's Bavarian Style Hefeweizen is true to style and oh-so-affordable. Add this one to your Summer Session list.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2010 16:25:18 | More by CaptainIPA

cnally

Indiana

4.13/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer is a misty, cloudy orange, radioactive style. Sticky white head that kills quick.

Huge floral aroma, citrusy and orangey.

The flavor is very wheaty, oaty, and very sweet. The flavor is delicious, and just like a hefe should be.

Creamy, sticky, but a bit over carbonated.

Wow, this is a fantastic flavor, a good feel and just an aromatic delight. I could drink this on a plane, I could drink this on a train. You get the idea.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2009 03:20:34 | More by cnally

ruckus232

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 Ounce brown bottle poured into a weizen glass

Appearance: Yellow/orange in color with a good amount of head that remains for a while. It is slightly cloudy but not entirely opaque.

Smell: Smells very banana like with a slight floral smell.

Taste: Very good banana and spice taste. Sweet but not overpoweringly sweet.

Note: I was actually very surprised with this beer, being from Trader Joe's I didn't expect anything really great but this is really good.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2010 02:26:57 | More by ruckus232

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A surprising bright amber/bread crust is yielded with strong bubbling but a quick retreating head and no foam or film left over. The smell is strong of cloves mixed with amber malts and sweet wheat. The taste is a very sweet grain profile with some bubblegum mixed with toasty grains.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2006 21:54:54 | More by scruffwhor

mralphabet

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle poured into pint glass.

A: Cloudy pale orange-yellow, about a fingers worth of head,,, nice ring of foam thought the session... Very nice lacing.

S: Lemons right out of the gate, little Banana & clove with a wheat tanginess...maybe a little grassy too.

T: Prominently lemon with some pepper... tangy wheat and a little grassy.... there is a hint of banana and clove floating around the finish... pretty damn good.

M: Thin at the front, but the finish is a little on the creamy side. Carbonation is right on for the style. Aftertaste is light and refreshing.

D: You could pound a lot of these down.... pretty damn good beer and cheap to boot... Grab some.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2009 03:42:52 | More by mralphabet

mactrail

California

4.1/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big, yeasty German-style wheat.

Nice amber color in the snifter. Starts out clear and gets cloudier down the bottle. Rich and full of spicy Hefeweizen flavors. Lots of cloves on the tongue, and even more in the nose. Good aroma and the esters just don't quit. Touch of hops gives a bitter counterpoint, but restrained.

Seems sharper and more carbonated than I remember from tasting it over the years. Still one of my favorites for a lighter and highly affordable beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2011 05:09:23 | More by mactrail

Halcyondays

California

4.1/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle, best by 2/2012,

A: Pours a hazy cloudy amber with a medium white head. Solid lace.

S: Great banana nose with a hint of honey and bubblegum. Reminds me a lot of Mission Hefe.

T: Some tangy lemon upfront. Lots of wheat malt taste, light acidity, bubblegum finish,

M: Light-bodied, very crisp and biting. Mild acidity, very direct.

O: Almost a hybrid of the hefe and American wheat style. Has the flavours of a hefe but with the crisp and acidity play of and APWA. Well made for sure, a steal at $6/6er.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 06:03:53 | More by Halcyondays

bashiba

Iowa

4.08/5  rDev +14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a cloudy dark orange with a creamy white head, decent retention, and solid lacing.

Smell is very good with a crisp granny smith apples, oranges, and banana's all coming through.

Taste is light, sweet, and fruity, with a nice bit of yeast coming through, has some typical german hefe notes with banana's and cloves being present, a light bit of hops in the finish, but still finishes sweet.

Mouthfeel is creamy and suprisingly full bodied for this light of beer.

Very easy to drink and enjoyable, just a bit on the sweet side. A pretty nice stab at the German classic.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2007 02:05:11 | More by bashiba

SurlyDuff

Oregon

4.08/5  rDev +14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Yet another from my 'custom' 6 pack from Trader Joe's.
I am glad that a chain supermarket, though a specialy one, has entered the realm of crafting different styles of beer. It's a great hefe, as far as i am concerned. I am not surprised that some people rated this in the C+ range, since all to often impressions, politics, and branding comes into the equation. I tried to rate this without any of that baggage attached, and found it to be a damn fine hefe, and for the $6 price, a real good buy!

Cloudy gold with fine bubbled head and resisilent pale lacing.

Aroma of spicy banana and clove. A good wheat presence too, as expected.

Taste is solid hefe, with big banana, clove florals, and herbal spicy wheat. Mouthfeel is towards the medium full end, and despite a bit of syrupy clinginess on the tounge, is great.

Drinkability is supurb, my pint emptied itself mighty-quick.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2008 01:37:58 | More by SurlyDuff

BucannonXC5

California

4.08/5  rDev +14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My house on July 8, 2012. Bottle into pint glass. Two fingers of head that dissipated very quickly. Copper brown color. Light white bubbly lacing with no retention.

Smelled banana, caramel and cloves. Also light notes of Circus Candy, bubble gum and citrus hops.

Tasted pretty close to the nose. Got banana, cloves and bubble gum right away, giving way to light citrus notes. Slight Circus Candy as well. Good balance overall.

Light-to-medium body. Thin texture. Average carbonation. Long, relatively smooth finish.

Was pleasantly surprised with this beer overall. Just a really good Hefe.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 06:21:51 | More by BucannonXC5

granger10

Wisconsin

4.05/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Cloudy brilliant golden pour with a large billowy head. Aroma has a lot of bananas and cloves with a touch of a dry spicyness in the end. Smells very nice. Taste matches aroma. The yeast really came out to me and showed itself. Lots of bananas and cloves with some bubblegum flavors on top. The wheat actually dries it out a bit and the finish has a nice little citric bite. This is an all around solid hefe. A touch light in the body and maybe not quite as creamy in substance as I would hope. Otherwise, this was a really quality offering from TJ's. For $4/sixer this is a great value!

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2006 17:31:35 | More by granger10

malcontent

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a weizen glass this hefe yeilds a full three fingers of head. Several minutes later at least 2 pillow-y fingers remain atop an unfiltered orange liquid.

I continue to be surprised by this brew; strong bubblegum scent is aided by a subtle clove aroma. A touch of lemon and banana resides on the back end but are fleeting at best.

The yeast is what jumps out at you right away with a milder incarnation of the bubblegum up front. Hints of spice trail off into a great wheat twang.

Thick, slightly chewy body with a sharp, biting finish. I'm stunned that I've enjoyed this beer as much as I have. Hefeweizens aren't my favorite style but I find this to be an outstanding example of the genre. Easily the best TJ's contract brew I've tried.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2007 23:49:19 | More by malcontent

funkyspunk87

California

4.05/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Trader Joe's Bavarian Style Hefeweizen
Trader Joe's Brewing Company
Style: Hefeweizen
ABV: 5.30 %

The best Trader Joe's has to offer, IMO. I light beer with complex flavors - citrus and banana tones and a smooth finish. If I had to get one of their beers I would stick with this one, as I think it is good for all times and occasions.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2008 19:08:53 | More by funkyspunk87

Tone

Missouri

4.05/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a cloudy, deep golden color with a light head. Little or no lacing, but generally normal for a Hefeweizen. A sweet fruity flavor that masks the wheat a little too much. Average carbonation with a smooth mouth-feel. There's a slight chewiness factor but it is lless than other Hefeweizens, so I liked it better. Overall, not a bad beer and worth a try if your passing by Trader Joe's.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2008 02:17:13 | More by Tone